EDMONTON — Chris Jones is as good as gone from the newly minted Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos.

Barring some unforeseen deal-breaker, as soon as the details of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ much-leaked offer of the dual role of general manager and head coach are sorted out, Jones will be off to Rider Nation to try to clean up the mess that produced a 3-15 fiasco in the 2015 CFL season.

If Jones accepts the role in Regina, and the reported $750,000 salary that goes with it, he will go with the blessing of Eskimos president and CEO Len Rhodes and general manager Ed Hervey, who said the Roughriders opening is “an opportunity (for) a growth position. In this business, you don’t prevent people from advancing and growing.”

If Jones does leave, the Eskimos will survive his departure, despite his splendid performance record and powerful bond with the players. Importantly, quarterback Mike Reilly is under contract and eager to go gunning for more championships.

There is roster depth at most positions and it’s a relatively young team. Reilly, 3o, is in his prime. Yes, there is a cadre of free agents, including starters like middle linebacker JC Sherritt, defensive lineman Almondo Sewell, Canadian receiver Shamawd Chambers, import deep threat Kenny Stafford and kicker Sean Whyte.

It seems a manageable list, though. Hervey betrayed no sense of panic about trying to sign some or all of them.

Both Jones and Hervey confirmed Wednesday that the Eskimos granted the Roughriders permission to negotiate with Edmonton’s head coach, who led the club to a 29-11 win-loss record over his two-year tenure, including a pair of playoff victories and the franchise’s 14th Grey Cup title.

“It is a good deal,” Jones said of the options success has placed in front of him. “Just like, when I left (Toronto) to come here, I left a great group of guys, I left some coaches that I’m best friends with, a great group of players over there that believed in me.

“So anytime (you leave a club) there’s give and take. Certainly, I look back on two years (here) right now. If this Saskatchewan deal works out, then it works out. That’s yet to be seen.”

Jones and Hervey met Tuesday to discuss the Saskatchewan offer and what the Eskimos could counter with in an effort to keep Jones. Neither would go into detail about that. Hervey stressed that their working relationship has been excellent, but the opportunity in Saskatchewan is too good not to at least explore.

“There’s a golden opportunity sitting out there for Chris Jones to have a chance to interview,” Hervey said. “It’s my obligation to make sure that we’re not seen as an organization that holds people back, regardless of the success this team has had with Chris.”

Expect the Roughriders’ vetting process for Jones to proceed at warp speed, whatever the outcome.

“We want to make sure that for both organizations involved, that it would be a quick deal,” Jones said. “We’re not wanting to drag this out very long. It’s going to be a bang-bang deal.”

Jones, a CFL assistant for 12 years before accepting the Edmonton job, said the key in taking a head coaching job started with having a good quarterback in place, and being confident he would be joining an organization that “really wants to win.”

The Eskimos had Reilly in place at quarterback, and still do. The franchise, which had struggled for years since its last Grey Cup in 2005, was intent on restoring its faded glory. It was a good fit for Jones to launch his head coaching career.

In Saskatchewan, quarterback Darian Durant, who led the Roughriders to a Grey Cup title in 2013, is in place. With new Mosaic Stadium under construction and set to open in 2017, the Riders are determined to reverse their on-field fortunes right away.

Jones, from South Pittsburg in football-mad Tennessee, should fit right in with Saskatchewan, where the Roughriders are a cultural centrepiece.

“If it’s a situation where (Jones) wants to come back, where it’s not a right fit for him, we’d welcome him (back) with open arms,” Hervey said.

If Jones does move on, Hervey will have to hire another head coach, as well an entire staff, possibly. Just two years removed from conducting the job search that produced Jones, that prospect hardly frightens Hervey.

The Eskimos’ GM broke into a broad grin when it was noted that, just two years after the job search that produced Jones, those personnel files should be fresh.

Names like former Eskimos quarterback Jason Maas, currently the Ottawa Redblacks offensive co-ordinator, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive co-ordinator Orlondo Steinauer are being batted about as possible candidates in Edmonton.

Jones’s summation of his role here could serve as an attractive pitch to any Eskimos head-coaching candidate. Or, less likely, as a reason for him to stick around.

“I’ve got a good job, man,” Jones said. “I’ve got a great locker room, I’ve got great coaches, great support staff.

“Ed’s been good to me, he gave me my first opportunity to be a head coach. So, we’ll just leave it at that.”

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